The buzz: The Browns are one of two winless teams left in the NFL, and considering they have just three home games remaining on their schedule, it shouldn’t surprise anyone if they join the 2008 Lions as the only 0-16 teams in NFL history. Cleveland’s offense is abysmal. Kizer, the rookie out of Notre Dame, has 11 interceptions in 213 pass attempts and two of the team’s four fumbles. Johnson leads the Browns in receptions while splitting time in the backfield with Isaiah Crowell. And star left tackle Joe Thomas is out for the season with a torn left triceps. The Browns’ saving grace is that they do have a young, fast defense that’s played well against the run, and a blue-chip pass rusher in Garrett. The No. 1 overall pick in April’s draft, Garrett has four sacks in three games. Danny Shelton is a solid interior run defender, and McCourty and Jamie Collins add a veteran presence to the secondary and linebacking corps, respectively.

Scouting report

Lions run offense vs. Browns run defense

The Lions are one of four NFL teams averaging less than 80 yards rushing per game, and this week they face the NFL’s No. 4-ranked run defense. The Browns have allowed just two teams to top 100 yards on the ground this season, the Ravens and Texans, and twice they’ve held opponents to less than 40 yards.

Ameer Abdullah landed in the doghouse with two second-half fumbles last week, but he’ll be back on the field in a starting capacity Sunday. Abdullah (122 carries, 417 yards) is averaging just 3.4 yards per carry this season, and some of the team’s short-yardage running struggles fall on his shoulders.

Left tackle Taylor Decker is expected back for the Lions after missing the first half of the season with a torn labrum in his shoulder. Decker is known more for his pass blocking prowess than his run blocking, but he should help a line that will be without right guard T.J. Lang because of a concussion. Edge: Browns.

After a rough October, the Lions offense seems to have turned a corner. Matthew Stafford threw for a season-high 423 yards two weeks ago against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and last week he had two touchdowns and 361 yards passing against the Green Bay Packers.

The Lions have gotten good play of late from receivers Marvin Jones and Golden Tate, and they’re expected to get rookie Kenny Golladay back on the field. The Browns do their best to limit big plays, but they allow opponents to complete 68.8% of their passes. Eric Ebron could be in for a big day as the Browns have allowed more receptions to tight ends than any other team in the NFL this year.

Lions rookie receiver Kenny Golladay makes a diving catch for a 45-yard touchdown against Cardinals safety Antoine Bethea late in the fourth quarter of the Lions' 35-23 win at Ford Field on Sept. 10, 2017.

Raj Mehta, USA TODAY Sports

The Browns don’t have many big names on defense, but rookie end Myles Garrett has four sacks in three games and cornerback Jason McCourty was playing well before his ankle injury. With an extra week to prepare coming off the bye, expect aggressive Browns defensive coordinator Gregg Williams to test Stafford with a variety of blitzes. Edge: Lions.

The Browns are one of the few teams that can match the Lions’ ineptitude when it comes to running the football. Isaiah Crowell has a team-high 351 yards rushing on the season, but he has just one rushing touchdown and one run longer than 20 yards.

Quarterback DeShone Kizer (144 yards rushing) adds a scrambling element to the offense, while backup running back Duke Johnson does most of his damage in the passing game. The Browns don’t have star left tackle Joe Thomas, who suffered a season-ending triceps injury last month, so they’re limited up front.

The Lions have one of the stingiest run defenses in the NFL at just 89.9 yards per game allowed. They made the Packers one-dimensional last week and will try to do the same with the Browns. A’Shawn Robinson has shined at defensive tackle in Haloti Ngata’s absence, and Tavon Wilson is one of the more underrated run-support defenders in the league. Edge: Lions.

Cleveland Browns quarterback DeShone Kizer celebrates after a 1-yard touchdown in the first half of ...more

Cleveland Browns quarterback DeShone Kizer celebrates after a 1-yard touchdown in the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the New York Giants, Monday, Aug. 21, 2017, in Cleveland.

Ron Schwane, AP

Browns pass offense vs. Lions pass defense

Kizer has gone through his share of rookie ups and downs with 11 interceptions and two fumbles lost. He’s been bad enough at times that the Browns have turned to Cody Kessler, but he’s coming off his first turnover-free game of the season.

Johnson leads the Browns with 36 catches and 324 yards receiving, and rookie tight end David Njoku has emerged as Cleveland’s top red-zone threat with three touchdowns. The Browns are limited in their downfield passing attack, though Kizer has a strong arm.

The Lions did not have a takeaway last week for just the second time this season, but they’ve gotten strong play all year long from cornerback Darius Slay, safety Glover Quin and the rest of the secondary. Top defensive end Ziggy Ansah is not expected to play because of a back injury, so it’ll be up to Anthony Zettel and Jacquies Smith to get pressure on Kizer. Edge: Lions.

Former Michigan star Jabrill Peppers is expected back this week and should handle return duties for the Browns. Peppers doesn’t have any huge returns this year, but he’s still an exciting player with the ball in his hands. Rookie kicker Zane Gonzalez has made just seven of 11 field goals, and the Browns have one punt blocked this year.

The Lions continue to have one of the best special-teams units in the NFL. Matt Prater is 18 of 21 on field goals this year with a long of 58 yards, Jamal Agnew is one of the league’s best return men, and Sam Martin should be well rested after the Lions played a punt-free game last week.

Edge: Lions

Overall

Jim Caldwell can say what he wants about the Browns being a good team, but absent some horrendous injury, there’s no good reason the Lions should lose this game. The Lions are clearly the better team in just about every area. Their defense has played well all season and excels at getting turnovers. Their offense has caught fire of late. And the rookie-laden Browns don’t take good care of the ball and don’t generate any explosive plays. The Browns are scrappy enough on defense that they’ll hang tough early, but half of their eight losses have come by two touchdowns or more, and this should make it nine. Pick: Lions 30, Browns 13